MADISON INDIANA PARTICIPATES IN THE AMERICANA MUSIC TRIANGLE AT THE PILGRAMAGE MUSIC & CULTURAL FESTIVAL IN FRANKLIN, TN

Madison, Indiana (September 25, 2023) – Madison was invited to participate alongside 14 other music cities in the Americana Music Triangle (AMT) at the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival in Franklin, TN. Representatives from Visit Madison, Inc., Madison Music Movement (M3), Madison Area Arts Alliance (MAAA), and the City of Madison traveled to Franklin to promote Madison as a visitor destination in the southern market. 

Sponsored by the Jefferson County Board of Tourism, the Madison representatives hosted a booth at the festival featuring an oversized banner sporting the words "Closer than you think…Madison, Indiana." The booth showcased a collection of Madison musicians, historic photos, and beauty shots of the valley. Promotional items were available for visitors, along with the chance to win an overnight trip to Madison, compliments of the Historic Eagle Cotton Mill.

The invitation to participate in the AMT came about during last year's Business of Music Summit hosted by the Indiana Arts Commission, MAAA, and M3. During the summit, the event brought musicians, songwriters, and arts and cultural enthusiasts together for a series of professional musician panels and sessions about music. This summit concluded with a Madison Musical Showcase, highlighting our community as a place with a rich musical history and a thriving music scene. Aubrey Preston, well-known preservationist, and founder of the Americana Music Triangle was the keynote speaker. Preston took an interest in Madison's desire to promote music, arts, and culture and asked Madison to be a part of the collection of music cities called the AMT.

"After participating in Madison's Business of Music in Madison last year, I was excited to see such an emphasis placed on cultivating a strong music product. We look forward to welcoming them into the Americana Music Triangle tent at the Pilgrimage," said Preston.

"It is our hope that by attending the Pilgrimage Festival and participating in the Americana Music Triangle events, Madison will be recognized with like-minded historic and music communities as we further develop our strong music, arts and cultural story as our tourism destination plan," said Madison's Mayor Bob Courtney.

Attendance at the Pilgrimage Festival was over 20,000 people each day. This year, a record number of communities and organizations were represented in the AMT tent. Madison was honored to be in the company of the State of Alabama; Huntsville, Alabama; The Shoals; State of Arkansas; Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum (Owensboro, KY); Clarksdale, Mississippi; Cleveland, Mississippi; MS/Grammy Museum; Oxford, Mississippi; Birthplace of Country Music (Bristol, Tennessee); Columbia, Tennessee; Experience TN; Nashville's Big Back Yard; Visit Franklin TN; and Lawrenceburg, Tennessee.

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Contact: Hannah Mahoney, City of Madison 812-274-0254

Kim Nyberg, Madison Area Arts Alliance 812-801-9863